Pro-choice GOP nominee problem for GOP platform

Q: Some columnists say one of the consequences--because of the mayor’s pro-life position--of a Giuliani victory would be to place the Republican nominee in direct conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. How big a problem is that?

THOMPSON: I think it’s a problem. I think it’s a problem not only for the Roman Catholic Church, but it’s a problem with the Constitution and the platform of the Republican Party. Every year the Republican Party, both at the state level in
Iowa, and nationally, are parties that come out very avidly and passionately on being pro-life. And I think any candidate that’s pro-choice is going to have a difficulty with the party faithful and those individuals that have come to this district
and the state and national meetings and have avowed time and time again that this party, the Republican Party, is a party of pro-life. So anybody that’s not pro-life is going to have difficulties. That’s the question.

New stem cell research means embryos need not be destroyed

A: Embryonic stem cells, as well as adult stem cells, show great promise. The president set forth a
policy about 72 embryonic lines that could be federally funded and could be used for research with federal funds.

Q: Researchers say there are not that many.

A: Well, there’s not that many. There’s 22 being used. There’s at least three more that have
not been used. Some of them were not able to be viable, some of them were not able to have what we call pluripotency, and so they were not able to continue. But there is some tremendous new research, going on with amniotic fluids. There’s also some new
research that says adult stem cells, if you do it the right way, will have the same characteristics as embryonic stem cells. So until this research is done, we do not have to destroy any more embryos. There’s enough lines right now.

Right to abortion should be left to states

Q: Do you have any nuance on this? Or are you just happy with the repeal of Roe v. Wade?

A: I believe it should be left up to the states. That was what was originally implied, and the Constitution was changed when the Supreme Court made the decision.
I have made a record of pro-life for a long time, signing the partial-birth abortion, pre-notification for parents and so on. I think it’s an important imperative that states have the responsibility for making these laws.

Both pro-life and pro-stem cell research

Several prominent conservative Republicans argue it is possible to be both “pro-life” and “pro-stem cell.” “Stem cell research facilitates life,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who studied the issue for two years before deciding to aggressively lobby the
Bush administration. “Abortion destroys life; this is about saving lives.”

“The most pro-life position would be to help people who suffer from these maladies,” Hatch said. “That is far more ethical than just abandoning or discarding these embryonic
stem cells.“ For politicians such as Hatch, a Mormon, the decision to break with many of their allies in the antiabortion community was closely tied to the enormous medical potential of embryonic stem cells to treat a wide range of debilitating
conditions. Hatch is hardly alone. In recent days, the pro-stem cell contingent [has come to include HHS Secretary] Tommy Thompson, Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-CA.), and Sens. Zell Miller (D, GA), Strom Thurmond (R-SC) and Gordon Smith (R-OR).

Source: Ceci Connolly, Washington Post, p. A01
, Jul 2, 2001

Legal abortion only for rape, incest, or mother’s health

Thompson has said that abortions should be legal only in cases where a woman’s life is endangered, or after a pregnancy resulting form rape or incest. As governor, he has used his power to increasingly restrict a woman’s right to choose.